Trump-Kim summit a symbol of peace and stability in the region: MOFA

2018/06/12 22:53:55

Taipei, June 12 (CNA) Taiwan's foreign ministry on Tuesday hailed the meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore as a historic opportunity for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the summit between the two leaders was also of great significance to the region, and that Taiwan supports the efforts made by the U.S. and North Korea to reduce tensions through rational dialogue.

As an important member of the Asia-Pacific region, "Taiwan looks forward to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula based on the benefit and in the interests of all countries in the region," MOFA said.

The foreign ministry said the island is willing to work together with the international community to promote peace, stability and prosperity across the region.

Yen Chen-shen (嚴震生), a research fellow at National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations, viewed the Trump-Kim summit in a positive light, saying interactions between the two countries are likely to become more institutionalized.

The U.S. may even lift its sanctions against North Korea in the near future, while also providing economic assistance to the country, Yen said.

Alexander Huang (黃介正), a professor in the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations at Tamkang University, said he doubted there would be any immediate changes after the summit.

Regarding the agreement on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Huang said the agreement is just a framework, and there are still plenty of details to be mapped out to reach such a goal.

Meanwhile, a Chinese scholar said the document Trump and Kim signed following their historic meeting did not include any substantive steps to reach their stated goals. For instance, Kim simply reiterated his agreement with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April regarding denuclearization, the scholar said.

Deng Yuwen, a Beijing-based independent scholar, told CNA that Trump had raised expectations too high before the Singapore meeting, demanding a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" plan for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

It was surprising that the document did not include even a basic timetable or schedule, Deng said.

Judging from the goals Trump set himself prior to the Singapore meeting, "I'd say Kim won and Trump lost."

It's interesting to see a losing Trump get so excited about his meeting with Kim, even praising Kim, according to Deng, who added what Trump apparently wanted was "the meeting itself," rather than a concrete and substantive agreement. (By Chou Hui-ying, Elain Hou, Lu Hsin-hui, Ku Chuan, Ko Lin and S.C. Chang)